Things cannot get much worse.” That rather trite statement was a frequent, feeble attempt to encourage people – after Katrina. "Things cannot get much worse.” That rather trite statement was a frequent, feeble attempt to encourage people – after Katrina. Of course, for Louisiana, not only was that statement trite, but it was wrong – absolutely wrong. Things have gotten worse. And with the terrible devastations of Katrina and Rita, many Louisianians are suffering malaise, if not downright depression. The average person is not equipped to offer great words of wisdom that will lift the person’s spirit who has just seen the destructive power of floodwaters and/or hurricane winds for the second time. But there are a couple of things the average person can do. This is the time for random acts of kindness and generosity. A person who is down in spirits receives a little boost every time someone lets that person into the flow of traffic or move up in the checkout line or yields to another person trying to go down the aisle of a crowded store. A person is encouraged each time a total stranger stops to help. Every time someone pitches in to help a neighbor when there is work to be done at home, a spark … [Read more...]

An image plays at the edge of the mind – a man standing on the roof of his pickup truck, water lapping up to the windows and over the bed. By C. Lacy Thompson LBM Associate Editor An image plays at the edge of the mind – a man standing on the roof of his pickup truck, water lapping up to the windows and over the bed. The water also surrounds his nearby house, inundating the first floor. Meanwhile, the man stands with his arms spread wide, raised to the sky, his face turned up, his eyes to the clouds. He is screaming at the top of his lungs – “You hear me, Mother Nature? I give up. I cry, ‘Uncle.’ Enough is enough.” It would be surprising to find that the scene has not been recreated in towns and communities all across South Louisiana. What Hurricane Katrina missed, Hurricane Rita hit. And oh yes, it also revisited the wreckage left by its earlier sister. Just weeks after Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans under water, Hurricane Rita did the same for many areas of the city, pushing water through repaired levee breeches once again. The damage was not as total as earlier. Some repaired breeches held. However, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes took hard hits once again. Floodwaters also hit … [Read more...]

It is shortly after 10:30 a.m. when Argile Smith, dressed informally in slacks and shirt sleeves this remarkable Sept. 18, rises before a remnant of his scattered Southern Baptist congregation and summoned them to prayer. It is shortly after 10:30 a.m. when Argile Smith, dressed informally in slacks and shirt sleeves this remarkable Sept. 18, rises before a remnant of his scattered Southern Baptist congregation and summoned them to prayer. The white steeple still stands atop First Baptist Church of Belle Chasse, but a patchwork of blue tarps cover the bald spots on the roof. They mark the places Hurricane Katrina stripped off the shingles one day short of three weeks ago. Meanwhile, in the parking lot, three dozen Oklahoma Baptist relief workers prepare to cook 10,000 boxed meals for the Red Cross to deliver to stricken New Orleanians across the Mississippi River. Everywhere around the church, trees are snapped, billboards crumpled, roofs scalped of shingles. Inside, Judy Winfrey, who rode out the storm as her roof disintegrated, bends over the keyboard this second Sunday after Katrina and launches into “The Name of the Lord.” Arrayed before Smith stands perhaps one-third of the usual congregation of … [Read more...]

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Southern Baptists have an opportunity they never have had before, Chuck Kelley emphasized. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Southern Baptists have an opportunity they never have had before, Chuck Kelley emphasized. “We have an opportunity to have a presence and a loud voice literally in the building of a city,” said Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. “The old New Orleans is gone, ... and a new New Orleans is going to emerge. ... “We have an opportunity as Southern Baptists to have a greater role in the city of New Orleans than we have ever had before and, through New Orleans and what we do there, to learn some lessons about impacting the urban culture and the urban setting, ...” Kelley added. “The whole world is going to watch and see who rebuilds New Orleans.” Kelley already has signaled a commitment to be part of the rebuilding effort. Even before the full extent of the hurricane damage could be assessed, Kelley announced plans for New Orleans Seminary to remain in the Louisiana city and to take an active role in recovery. Indeed, Kelley has said the seminary plans to hold classes in New Orleans in the fall of 2006 and … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist Convention entities are responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina with pledges of funds and assistance. Southern Baptist Convention entities are responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina with pledges of funds and assistance. The SBC Executive Committee has agreed to use all Cooperative Program receipts above budget for the 2004-05 fiscal year and for the first quarter of the new fiscal year to support disaster relief efforts. The overage normally is allocated to all convention entities. However, the Executive Committee now will give 50 percent of the surplus to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 25 percent to the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and 25 percent to the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana conventions. The convention’s 2004-05 fiscal year closes Sept. 30. As of Sept. 20, the surplus already was $6.4 million. The Executive Committee also voted last week to suspend a convention bylaw that prevents one entity from making a financial contribution to another so that doors could be opened for unprecedented relief measures. SBC International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin said his trustees have agreed to allocate $2.5 million … [Read more...]

Week of September 26, 2005 Potpourri DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp: Due to the camp being used as an evacuee shelter the Oct. 21-22 Couples’ Retreat has been rescheduled as a retreat for pastors, church staff and their spouses on Nov. 11-12; Curt Iles, camp manager. SHREVEPORT – Kingston Road church: “Sing the Glory Down” summer music festival event; Oct. 1, 6 p.m.; love offering received; Trey Lewis, pastor. LECOMPTE – First church: Jamie Womack, guest speaker; Oct. 2, 10:45 a.m. SHREVEPORT – Calvary church: Senior Adult Crusade; Oct. 17, 5:30-7 p.m.; Junior Hill, evangelist; $10 per person for banquet style meal; to purchase tickets, call (318) 685-5736; ticket deadline is Oct. 2; Richard Edmonds, pastor. HOMER – Calvary church: David’s Song in concert; Oct. 1, 6 p.m.; Brent Shoalmire, pastor. Youth OAK GROVE – First church: “Relate Conference” for teens and parents; Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Richard Ross, Andy Harrison and Brandon Smith, guest speakers; Consumed, praise band; for more information, call (318) 428-2583; Kevin Miles, associate pastor/youth minister; Carl Gulde, pastor. Revivals ROSEPINE – Providence church: Oct. 5-9, 6 p.m.; John Blankenbaker in concert on Oct. 8; Bill Terrell, … [Read more...]